Help:Creating animated GIFs

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This page in a nutshell
  • Programs to use: ScreenToGif for Windows Windows and GifGrabber for macOS macOS.
  • Create distraction-free GIFs only showing the important aspects (like animation or a homing effect of a projectile)
  • Do not wear or use items that will distract the viewer from what you actually want to show.
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This page covers the aspects involved in creating high-quality animated GIFs to demonstrate certain Terraria animations, including a step-by-step workflow guide.

See below for two free programs for Windows Windows and macOS macOS for creating screen-recorded animated GIFs.

Examples

Beam Sword
An example of a good GIF.
No distractions, high frame rate, good video quality, recorded in the latest version.
Beam Sword
An example of a bad GIF.
Too many distracting items and particles, low frame rate, no damage demonstration, recorded in 1.3.

Workflow

Step Explanation
1) Read the Terraria Wiki article of the item you want to demonstrate carefully.
  • Take note of all relevant unique properties of the item worth showcasing.
2) Determine the aspects of the item you want to demonstrate, based on the wiki article's information.
  • The item might have a special animation.
  • It might be a weapon which interacts with enemies in a special manner (e.g. homing, piercing).
  • It possibly has other unique properties.
3) Determine what is required to demonstrate those aspects.
  • A particularly light or dark area might be required. (Dark may be necessary to demonstrate an item's glow or a light pet.)
  • Enemies or other entities might be required.
4) Build a clean arena where you can demonstrate the item.
  • Use simple-textured blocks and walls, preferably Stone Slabs (alternatively Gray Bricks).
  • The only objects visible within the arena should be its floor, standard Torches if necessary, Wood Platforms, if needed, and, for demonstrations of weapons, Target Dummies (in addition to anything else necessary for the demonstration).
  • Ideally, fullbright should be used. This can be achieved by using Illuminant Coating on tiles and Echo Coating on torches, and use Shine Potion and Night Owl Potion. However if unable to do so, utilize only the daylight, removing background walls that won't be seen in the finished gif. If that is not possible, place only as many standard Torches as necessary for every entity to be seen clearly. Too many Torches without benefit for the lighting only act as a distraction. Preferably, every part of the arena has the same light level.
5) Use the default character and world difficulty settings.
  • Use the default character settings (press create after entering the character creation menu without modifying any aspects of attire).
  • In weapon demonstrations that involve statue-spawned enemies, use the default world difficulty (Classic world, or set difficulty to 1× in Journey Mode).
  • Remove/hide all accessories and dyes that are not necessary for the demonstration. (Leave on the ones relevant, e.g. if you're demonstrating Hermes Boots, show the boots in the animation.)
  • Unless they are part of the demonstration, deactivate all pets, light pets and minions.
  • Unless armor is being demonstrated, hide all armor with the Familiar set or remove it (effect-causing armor, such as Beetle armor, should be removed entirely; when demonstrating weapons, damage/critical chance-enhancing items should be removed entirely).
6) Record the aspects of the item you want to demonstrate.
  • Make sure the mouse cursor is not visible unless part of the demonstration (e.g. Xenopopper; the bullets fly toward the mouse cursor no matter where they originate.)
    • Consider whether or not the cursor effects the item in question. The standard red mouse cursor is preferred, in case you decide to include it.
  • Furthermore, make sure there are no unnecessary UI's from the game (such as the edge of an opened inventory, health/mana bars or the map) visible in your recording area.
  • Focus on the core aspects you determined in step 2. Demonstrate each one of these a fair amount of times.
7) Edit the video recording.
  • Crop the video to a size as small as possible, making everything that does not belong in it off-screen. You should leave a certain margin around the area of the demonstration, though, so that the GIF is still pleasing to watch. Make sure the weapon and damage amounts are not off-screen at any point in the animation.
  • Cut the video to only show the necessary parts of the animation. Do not extend the GIF with unnecessary repetitions of the same animation already shown! Every additional frame increases the page's loading time.
8) Export/save the GIF.

Example

This is a workflow example for creating a GIF demonstrating the Beam SwordBeam Sword.

Step Applied to Example
1) Read the Terraria Wiki article of the item you want to demonstrate carefully.
2) Determine the aspects you want to demonstrate, based on the wiki article's information.
  • The sword shoots a projectile when swung.
  • The projectile dissipates upon hitting an enemy, with no pierce.
  • The cooldown of the sword projectile; the sword does not fire a beam on every swing.
3) Determine what is required to demonstrate those aspects.
  • A Target Dummy to attack with the sword and shoot the projectile against to demonstrate the incapabilities of piercing of the projectile.
  • No other distracting particles or items are necessary to demonstrate the determined aspects, and, as such, should be left out.
4) Build a clean arena where you can demonstrate your item.
5) Use the default male character.
  • Use the default character settings.
  • Remove or hide all equipped items and armor.
6) Record the aspects of the item you want to demonstrate.
  • Put the Beam Sword in the hotbar and close the inventory and map to ensure there are no UI elements included unintentionally.
  • Swing the sword one time, demonstrating the sword projectile.
  • Swing it another time immediately afterwards to demonstrate the cooldown and the projectile not firing upon every swing.
  • Swing it a third time after the cooldown has elapsed to demonstrate the projectile firing again.
7) Edit the video recording.
  • Crop the video to only include the area of the character and the Target Dummy. Leave a small margin around them and make sure that the damage numbers are not cut off, so that the GIF is still pleasing to watch.
  • In case you have swung the sword many times, cut the video to only include the necessary swings.
8) Export/save the GIF.

Software

Name Platform Notes Link
ScreenToGif Windows Windows
  • You can change the size of the recording area.
  • Built-in cropping, cutting and resizing functionalities.
  • Very high GIF quality.
  • Easy to use.
http://www.screentogif.com/
GifGrabber macOS macOS
  • You can change the size of the recording area.
  • Rather simple.
  • Easy to use.
http://www.gifgrabber.com/

Both programs are free to download and use. Using ScreenToGif is recommended because you can quickly record everything you need, crop, cut and export from the same program.

Alternatives

Requirements Platform Workflow
  • Any recording tool
  • Video editing tool with GIF export functionality
Any
  1. Record the screen with a screencasting software.
  2. Edit the video with a video editing software.
  3. Export the video as GIF.